FINAL D R A F T 05-27-2003 rev 1.4

TO:                  All CSUH Instructors and Staff

FROM:            Blackboard Support Team

RE:                  Scheduled Blackboard Upgrade for Fall 2003

The CSUH Blackboard course management system has been in production in its current form since Fall 2001. A major revision of the application was released in the fall of 2002. We have been waiting for this release to stabilize before implementation at CSUH.

Initial updates to version 6 of the Blackboard application have been released and version 6.1 is to be released this fall. We are intending to implement the new version for Fall 2003.

The major areas of improvement are:

• an equation editor as well as other improved content creation features
• more flexible copying materials within content areas and between courses
• completely redesigned assessment engine
• completely redesigned collaboration tools, including chat and whiteboard
• new features in gradebook, including import and export of gradebook
• ability to custom name areas (buttons)
• improved assignment handling including downloading

With the new version, the ability to implement LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is available. The implementation of LDAP will give students the ability to use one login/password (NETID) to access both the Horizon email and Blackboard systems. Starting with fall quarter, students will use their NETID to access both the Horizon email system and the Blackboard system.

We also expect to have an email access tool in Blackboard’s portal. We are in the process of acquiring a module that works within the Blackboard portal to allow direct access to the Horizon email system.

We are also evaluating an HTML editing module that would allow easier HTML editing of content. We expect to have this in place by fall quarter.

We are planning to offer introductory workshops in June and throughout the summer. Please check online at:            http://csuhbb.csuhayward.edu         for a schedule and workshop signups. If you would like to preview the new version, make an appointment with Bernie Salvador in the Office of Faculty Development (x52562.)

The migration from version 5.5.1 to version 6.X will require several days. The Blackboard system will be unavailable during this time. Please check http://csuhbb.csuhayward.edu for updated information and migration schedule.